GILES TERERA MBE AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE AT MOUNTVIEW GRADUATION 2026

9 Nov 2026

On Monday 2 November, Mountview alum and Vice President Giles Terera MBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate at our Graduation ceremony at the Broadway Theatre, Catford. The Honorary Doctorate is an award of the University of East Anglia (UEA), nominated by Mountview.

Mountview alum and Vice President Giles Terera MBE delivering a speech after he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate

Mountview alum and Vice President Giles Terera MBE delivering a speech after he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate

From originating Aaron Burr in Hamilton to taking the stage as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic this year, Giles embodies the transformative power of storytelling and of using your own voice in your work. He is also a powerful advocate for accessible arts training, opening doors for the next generation of artists.

Accepting the award, Giles delivered an address to our graduating class of 2026:

“As you leave here and continue on your journey, listen to that voice within you. It will guide you through the corridors of rejection and along the shores of success… It was there at the start of your journey and it is the only one that will be there at the end.”

The ceremony was a celebration of our newest wave of graduates as they step into the industry, and we are proud to welcome every one of them into the Mountview alumni community!

Humprey Barclay, Olivia Grace Parson, Ella Ashworth, Professor Catherine Richardson, Giles Terera MBE, Sally-Ann Gritton, Sara Hajizadeh, Steven Grihault, Dawn Ingleson, Fleur Simpson and Dillon Dowson

Humprey Barclay, Olivia Grace Parson, Ella Ashworth, Professor Catherine Richardson, Giles Terera MBE, Sally-Ann Gritton, Sara Hajizadeh, Steven Grihault, Dawn Ingleson, Fleur Simpson and Dillon Dowson

A number of prizes were also presented on the day. Olivia Grace Parsons received the Diana Boddington Award for an outstanding Technical Theatre student, and Sara Hajizadeh was presented with the Gyearbuor Asante Award for Acting as the top-scoring undergraduate performance student. Fleur Simpson was awarded the André Ptaszynski Prize for Producing in recognition of exemplary leadership and creative collaboration, and Dillon Dowson received the Emily Oulton Award for courage and originality in creative practice. Find out more about our Academic Awards.

Congratulations to the newest additions to our constellation of graduates! #MountviewForever

Photos by Steve Gregson Photography